Nankervis will make his return for Richmond's VFL team after suffering a groin injury in round eight of the AFL.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick says he expects Nankervis to press for AFL selection the following week.

"Toby will play some game time this week, it will be at VFL level," Hardwick told reporters on Thursday.

"Obviously he has missed a significant amount of football but he wll be available for AFL selection hopefully the next week versus Collingwood."

Resurgent Richmond host Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday with Hardwick wary of the hot-and-cold Power.

Port slid to ninth spot on the ladder after last week's loss to Brisbane, which continued their sequence of win-loss since round six.

"At their best they are an incredible football side," Hardwick said of Port.

"When they play their very best football, which is what we will be preparing for, they can beat anyone.

"They would be disappointed with their game against Brisbane on the weekend, in saying that Brisbane were fantastic.

"But then we saw the demolition job they (Port) did against the Crows.

"We understand how they play their best football and what is required of them to play their best football.

"We have just got to make sure we limit a few of those things."

Australian Associated Press